Top-Tier Alternatives Exploring the Legacy of The Ace of Hearts: Cu...

Dir: Harley Knoles

Jim McDonald, the foreman of a shipbuilding plant and head of the labor union, strives to combat the anarchistic propaganda being put forth by Klimoff, the leader of a Bolshevik gang whose goal is to disrupt the country with strikes and anarchy. Despite McDonald's efforts, a strike is called, resulting in chaos. McDonald's child is knocked down by runaway horses abandoned by their striking driver, and dies. Mob scenes take place in America, as well as in Russia. Eventually, the unrest is quelled with an armistice called between Capital and Labor for a year, during which time wages are to be increased to reflect the cost of living, and leaders are to work out a common plan for their mutual advantage. The strikers now realize that they have been pawns of the Bolsheviks and call off the strike, agreeing to the plan.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

A deformed criminal mastermind plans to loot the city of San Francisco as well as revenge himself on the doctor who mistakenly amputated his legs.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Penalty perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: F. Martin Thornton

In Paris an orphan cartoonist loves a man with a mad wife, who dies in time to prevent her marriage to a jilted Comte.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

Neysa von Igel, who is living with her supposed grandfather Adolph Schmidt, loves America, although she believes herself to be German-born. Unknown to Neysa, when she was three years old, her American-born parents were killed in Germany by Emil Koenig, whose punishment was to be sent to the United States to work in the interest of the government of the Fatherland, and who is now associated with Schmidt in his manufacturing enterprise. Koenig demands that Neysa work in behalf of Germany. She revolts and escapes to the home of David Hale, who had been her grandfather's attorney but who is now in the service of the United States Government. Hale and Neysa are married and depart for France, where the girl again encounters Koenig, and, after many thrilling adventures, she kills him in self-defense.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Flame perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Bruno Ziener

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

Helen Rowland is unresponsive towards her rich husband Henry and spends most of her time at social events. Henry agrees to give financial assistance to young clergyman John Sterling for his missionary cause if Helen can become interested in Sterling's work in the slums. Helen becomes so interested in Sterling's mission work that she admits to Henry that she is in love with the clergyman. Henry then insists that Sterling arouse Helen's hatred. Sterling feigns drunkenness and Helen is so disgusted that she hurries home. Henry is remorseful about the scheme, but confesses he did it out of love for her, and so Helen discovers, finally, that she loves her husband.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of An Alien Enemy perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

Mary Thorne, a quarter-breed Native American, returns home from the East with a college degree and an air of refinement, although she relishes the freedom of her father Marshall's mountain cabin. When Mark Hamilton and Chester Martin visit the cabin on a hunting expedition, Mary, in a spirit of mischief, dons her Indian clothing and convinces them that she is full-blooded. Mark falls deeply in love with the girl, while Chester, contemptuous of her Indian background, though attracted to her, decides to possess her. While her father is hunting for gold at Lost Lake, Chester enters Mary's room and attacks her. Mark rescues her, after which he realizes, by the modern décor of her room, that Mary is a cultured young lady. Later, Marshall is killed by an Indian guard at Lost Lake, but Mary inherits the gold he discovered and marries Mark.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

New York playwright Vincent Manton invests his entire fortune in stock, to keep his socially ambitious wife Lucille happy, but quickly loses it. Devastated when Lucille angrily elects to divorce him, Vincent moves to Alaska and begins to drink heavily. His sad rendition of "Home Sweet Home" on the piano in Big Dan Johnson's dance hall moves Johnson's foster daughter Rose to pity, and she gently reproaches him for his drinking. Unaware of her relation to Big Dan, Vincent treats Rose like one of the dance hall girls, and as a result, he is beaten senseless. Rose faces rejection for nursing the stranger's wounds, but Vincent falls in love with her, and they are married. Shortly afterward, Vincent strikes gold, and while he is visiting New York to incorporate his mine, he encounters his first wife. Lucille musters all of her charms to regain Vincent, but he soon realizes that she is only desirous of his money and decides to return to the woman who really loves him. Upon his arrival, Rose presents him with a baby son.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Eva, wo bist du? perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

Jane Cabot, a working girl whose mother Marion sings in a cabaret and whose father Jim simply loafs, dreams of leaving the slums for a new life. After Jane's mother is discharged, however, Jane is forced to take her place in McGann's saloon, where she attracts the attention of political boss Thomas Dolan and his young assistant, Lee Stevens, who has recently come to New York from the mountains of the West. When Dolan insults Jane, she throws wine in his face, which infuriates Dolan but deeply impresses the idealistic Westerner. Dolan's systematic harassment causes Jane to lose every position she secures, but Lee, believing her unfaithful, returns to the mountains. Meanwhile, Jane's father is convicted of killing a policeman, and on the day he is imprisoned, her mother commits suicide. Lee learns that Jane still loves him and returns to New York just as Dolan is taking the dazed girl to his apartment. The two men engage in a fierce struggle until the police, who have discovered the politician's corruption, enter and arrest Dolan.

Dir: Wallace Worsley

Adele Bleneau is a young nurse who assists her father, a renowned surgeon/. While in Washington, DC, she meets and falls in love with a British army officer, Capt. Fraser. While traveling by ship to France with her father, she meets Count von Schulling, a German diplomat who is an acquaintance of her father. Von Schulling falls for the pretty young Adele. While in France, Adele organizes a rescue party to save Capt. Fraser, who has been on a secret mission behind enemy lines and has been wounded. In a twist of fate, Adele finds the wounded Fraser and takes him to a hospital, but Count von Schuling, who has also been wounded, is placed in the same room as Fraser. When the hospital is overrun by German forces, Adele is placed in a delicate position by von Sculling: either spy for the Germans or Fraser will be shot.